Week 16: Tuesday September 24, 2013

Family,

   Another week has come & gone here in the jungle & I'm still alive, so that's good! Man, I know that I have had some crazy stories so far, but another crazy thing happened this week. So, we are on the side of the street proselyting, talking to some teenage kids. Mine & Elder Walker's backs are towards the road so we can hear bikes & tricycles behind us. We were actually in a really good conversation when out of nowhere - we hear this loud crash! To preface the story, you might want to look up what tricycles look like here in the Philippines. All they are are motorcycles with small side cars attached to the side. They are tiny & we ride them all the time. So, we look to the left just in time to see one man fall off of the back of the bike & another get thrown from the sidecar, land & skid on the railing on the side of the road, smack his head on a post, & fall to the ground laying unconscious in his own blood!  We run over there to help, but (I'm ashamed to say this) I had to hang back because I was getting a little sick. I don't remember if I told you the story about another crash we saw my first transfer, but the same thing happened where I felt very sick after. Anyway, I haven't heard anything on the man. Hopefully he is okay, but I haven't heard anything, so who knows? I was shocked that I have been sick for these last two accidents, though. I have been thinking about why I have felt this way because I have never gotten sick from anything like this before. I thought that maybe I finally inherited it from dad, but I thought some more & I think I found an answer.  Any other injury or accident I am fine with, but these last two have had one thing in common: it involves someone laying in the road covered in blood. I realized that the reason I have been sick for these accidents is because both times I have had flashbacks of when Chelsie was hit by a car. Both times it has been very hard to get through the day because I kept having flashbacks of that. It's terrible, I know. I  don't know why I'm sharing this with you all, but it is just something I have realized.

   On a happier note, we have some new investigators! They seem interested & hopefully they will progress faster than the last one's, though we are still working with them & they continue to progress, just slowly. Zone conference was good. President Schmutz is extremely intelligent. He gave a good workshop & it has me thinking a little bit. It was nice to see some of the other missionaries as well. It was nice to be in the city! I hope I get transferred there sometime. I have always enjoyed cities much more than smaller places, another reason I can't wait to move up North. There is just so much more to do in the city! I also want to go to Negros, the neighboring island. Everyone who goes there says it is the absolute best! My MTC companion is there right now & I'm jealous. Anyway, there really isn't that much going on right now. I am getting dang good at the language though! Most of the time I can have conversations with people without need of help. It still depends, though. But I'm happy with my progress.

   Jazz, your new job sounds fun! It sounds like you enjoy it so that's good. It sounds like the yard is paradise in the making as well! I can't wait to get up there & see it. Yes, of course I want pictures of you & Seager as well! I want to see all of you! Obviously the kids are the cutest, but you guys aren't that bad either (most of the time!) Those books sound good. If you want you could send them to me. I would read them for sure, there isn't much to do here. I'm glad my Utes pulled through! It sounds like they aren't looking very good, though. Oh well, I'm just hoping for a bowl game this year.

   Love you all! Sorry I forgot pictures again, I'm so bad at that!

   -Elder Staheli